Chapter 8 : A Flock of Hungry Spirits

One day later.

"Sigh, slow down."

He looked at the flock of chattering, fluffy little creatures before him and couldn't help but wear a bitter smile.

Twelve Violet-Striped Goose had hatched one after another, becoming this adorable brood of goslings, their downy fluff uncannily reminiscent of ducklings from his past life.

They appeared gentle and cute, but the one drawback was the rather high cost of raising them.

For now, the Violet-Striped Goose were still extremely young and fragile, with a real risk of perishing from the slightest mishap. To nurture them, Eldrin Chen had no choice but to feed them congee made from Spirit Rice [a grain infused with spiritual energy, vital for cultivators and spirit beasts].

However, Spirit Rice was an exceedingly precious commodity. In the market, a single Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] could only buy three Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] of it.

In the past, the Chen Clan provided Eldrin Chen with an annual subsidy of thirty Jin-weight of Spirit Rice, a stipend worth ten Spirit Stone. Combined with his regular allotment of Spirit Stone, it was more than sufficient for his cultivation needs.

But now, the Chen Clan was in dire straits. Most of the Spirit Rice had been sold off to pay debts, naturally cutting off his Spirit Rice stipend.

If not for the ten Jin-weight of Spirit Rice that the Third Elder had firmly pressed into his hands when he came to Spirit Lake Isle, he likely wouldn't have any Spirit Rice to feed the Violet-Striped Goose now. Original publication: audio novel.com - The source of this chapter.

This Spirit Rice [a type of grain infused with spiritual energy] was Eldrin Chen's personal rations, capable of accelerating his cultivation. In the four months since arriving at Spirit Lake Isle, he had only allowed himself one liang-weight [fifty grams] every three days. By now, a mere six jin-weight [three kilograms] remained.

He never expected to suddenly have twelve extra mouths to feed. These little creatures, unaware of the preciousness of Spirit Rice, swarmed around the congee, squabbling and tussling with each other. Once finished, they would turn to Eldrin Chen with insistent cries, clamoring for more until his head throbbed with their noise.

"Eat, eat, eat."

"At this rate, you'll strip my family's coffers bare."

Eldrin Chen grumbled without real heat. Despite his words, he still measured out another liang-weight of Spirit Rice and cooked a fresh pot of congee for the demanding brood.

After feeding the dozen-odd little ones, he settled into a cross-legged position on the ground, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

"In the tales of my previous life, cultivators were always peerless figures of transcendent grace, like banished immortals descending to earth, roaming the world with unmatched prowess."

"Who could have imagined that upon truly arriving in the Immortal Realm [the world of cultivation], my path would involve tilling fields, tending fish, and raising ducks?"

"If a story were written about cultivation like this, I doubt any reader would believe it."

At this thought, Eldrin Chen chuckled softly to himself. His gaze drifted to the ancient zither resting on the pavilion ledge before the Bamboo Hut, and a serene smile graced his features once more.

In his previous life, he had been an art student, and this ancient zither before him was the sole passion he had carried over from that existence.

"No one decreed that cultivation must solely consist of endless conflict and slaughter," he mused.

"Is it not also a form of cultivation to occasionally strum the strings, tend a few acres of Spiritual Field [a field nourished by spiritual energy for growing special crops], raise some Spirit Fish [fish that have absorbed spiritual energy, their flesh beneficial for cultivation], and keep a few immortal birds?"

He spoke softly to himself, his heart profoundly tranquil.

Cultivation, at its core, hinges upon resources. If no one farmed, if no one cultivated renewable resources, and everyone merely plundered from one another, from where would these vital resources come?

The reason Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use cruel, forbidden methods, often involving sacrifice and bloodshed] are universally reviled in the cultivation world is precisely because they produce nothing. They hunt mortals and fellow cultivators in great numbers, using the flesh, blood, and souls of the Human Race to forge their vile artifacts. Such acts seek to destroy the very foundation of the Immortal Realm [the world of cultivation and immortals].

They are utterly self-serving, adhering to the creed that 'heaven destroys those who do not look out for themselves.' They would even drain the potential of the world itself for their own advancement, killing the goose that lays the golden egg being a common practice.

If the Chen Clan were ever to fall, its hundreds of thousands of mortal descendants would likely become mere sustenance for Demonic Cultivator and demonic beasts, their souls denied peace even in death. This was precisely why the Grand Elder of Chen Clan and so many other cultivators maintained a constant vigil within Pingyang County Town.

"Three liang-weight [one liang equals fifty grams] of Spirit Rice [rice grains infused with spiritual energy, consumed by cultivators] per day... the remaining six jin-weight [one jin equals half a kilogram] will only last for twenty days."

"Fortunately, after those twenty days, they will have passed through the most fragile stage of their infancy."

Herding Chen calculated how long the remaining Spirit Rice [a type of rice infused with spiritual energy, a staple food for cultivators] could sustain them. Fortunately, the Violet-Striped Goose were, after all, Spirit Beast [animals that have absorbed spiritual energy and gained supernatural abilities]. When the time came, they could be fed ordinary rice or released to forage in Spirit Isle Lake.

Aside from the docile Azure Verdant Spirit Fish, Spirit Isle Lake harbored no other demonic beasts. Once the Violet-Striped Goose passed their fledgling stage, they would be more than capable of fending off ordinary predators and hunting for food within the lake.

In the days that followed, Eldrin Chen returned to his daily cultivation routine.

During his leisure time, he would tend to the Spiritual Field [a field nourished by spiritual energy, used to grow spirit plants] every half-month, care for the precious Spirit Herb [plants imbued with spiritual energy, used in alchemy], occasionally take stock of the Azure Verdant Spirit Fish, and feed the Spirit Goose. Thus, the days slipped quietly by.

In the blink of an eye, the end of the seventh month arrived. On this day, Eldrin Chen stood beneath the Spiritual Peach Tree [a peach tree that bears spiritually potent fruit], gazing at the fifty-six Spiritual Peach [peaches infused with spiritual energy, prized by cultivators] hanging from its branches. He couldn't help but reveal a look of pure delight.

Finally, the Spiritual Peach on the Spiritual Peach Tree had ripened. A total of fifty-six peaches—this represented a value of two hundred and eighty Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Official source: audio—novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Overjoyed, he plucked one Spiritual Peach and took a tentative bite. He discovered the fruit was not only rich in spiritual energy but also incredibly sweet, delicious, and utterly delectable.

"This Spiritual Peach is truly Extraordinary," he murmured.

"No wonder they sell for such a high price."

Herding Chen's face lit up with astonishment. This was the most delicious peach he had ever tasted.

After consuming a single Spiritual Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy], he felt as if he had refined a Precious Pill [a high-grade cultivation elixir]. The Vital Energy [the foundational life force energy cultivated by practitioners] within his body increased by a noticeable measure, and he even brushed against the threshold of the Vital Essence Refinement 8th Tier [the eighth stage of refining one's foundational life force].

It had been eight months since his breakthrough to the Vital Essence Refinement 7th Tier. Given his usual cultivation speed, he should have required roughly two more years to reach the Vital Essence Refinement 8th Tier.

However, the two Violet-Striped Goose [a type of spiritual bird] he had hunted earlier were greatly nourishing to a cultivator's practice. After steaming and consuming both birds, he had saved a considerable amount of cultivation time.

Now, with the addition of this Spiritual Peach, his cultivation base had finally touched the very edge of the Vital Essence Refinement 8th Tier.

"A single Spiritual Peach is not quite enough," he murmured.

Seeing the opportunity for a breakthrough to the Vital Essence Refinement 8th Tier within reach, Eldrin Chen swallowed seven or eight Spiritual Peach in quick succession. Finally accumulating sufficient Vital Energy, he began his assault on the Vital Essence Refinement 8th Tier.

A mere half Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] later, the spiritual energy around him trembled faintly. He exhaled a wisp of white mist, then opened his eyes, a look of joy spreading across his face.

"The eighth tier of Vital Essence Refinement," he announced to the quiet room.

Eldrin Chen felt his Vital Energy grow yet more potent, and he could not suppress a smile of deep satisfaction.

He had just passed his sixteenth year. Achieving a breakthrough to the Vital Essence Refinement 8th Tier at such an age was exceedingly rare. Even among the great immortal cultivation sects, he would be considered outstanding.

At this pace, it was highly likely he would break through to the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier before the age of twenty, and then begin planning for Foundation Establishment.

"Furthermore, with the aid of over fifty Spiritual Peach [spiritually enriched peaches that enhance cultivation] each year, my cultivation progress will also accelerate."

"This will save a great deal of time, allowing me to break through to the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier sooner."

With this thought, Eldrin Chen gazed at the Spiritual Peach Tree [a tree that bears spiritually potent peaches], his heart stirring with excitement.

With these Spiritual Peach, he was finally not too short on cultivation resources. Even if he received no clan stipend for the next few years, it would not hinder his cultivation progress.

Refining the Spiritual Peach, tending to the ducks, farming the fields, feeding the fish, and cultivating—the days that followed passed in a tranquil and peaceful rhythm.

In the blink of an eye, late autumn arrived. On this day, a small boat approached from beyond the Spirit Isle Lake, and a voice carried across the water from afar.

"Little Eldrin, I'm here!"

Eldrin Chen emerged from Lake Heart Island and saw three figures approaching.

Recognizing the visitors, he couldn't help but break into a smile.

"Sixteenth Granduncle."

The newcomer was Eternal Land Chen of the Chang Generation of the Chen Clan. He was ranked sixteenth among the cultivators of the Chang Generation, hence he was Eldrin Chen's Sixteenth Granduncle.

The remaining two were his clan brothers, Remembrance Heaven and Remembrance Origin. Although both were older than Eldrin Chen in years, their cultivation and status were now far inferior to his.

Sixteenth Granduncle was now eighty-nine years old, and his cultivation had only reached the Vital Essence Refinement 7th Tier. It was precisely because his cultivation was not high that he had managed to avoid the calamity a year prior.

As he drew closer to Eldrin Chen, his first glance took in the change in Eldrin Chen's cultivation level. With a note of uncertainty, he inquired,

"The eighth tier of Vital Essence Refinement?" Experience the full epic at www . audio-novel.com.